colonoscopy

noun

co·​lo·​nos·​co·​py ˌkō-lə-ˈnä-skə-pē 

plural colonoscopies

: endoscopic examination of the colon

colonoscope

kō-ˈlä-nə-ˌskōp 

noun

Examples of colonoscopy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then the patients went in for colonoscopies and the doctors noted whether each patient had hemorrhoids or not. —Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026

Section 3 has been invoked four times, by three different leaders, all for short hours while the acting president underwent a colonoscopy. —Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 8 Apr. 2026

When the test showed microscopic blood loss, his physician recommended a colonoscopy. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026

If a colonoscopy back positive for colon cancer, surgery is typically done to remove the tumors or portions of the colon, followed by chemotherapy or other cancer treatment, depending on how advanced the cancer is, Olson and Verma said. —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing colonoscopy

• virtual colonoscopy

Rhymes for colonoscopy

• laparoscopy
• arthroscopy
• colposcopy
• cystoscopy
• fluoroscopy
• spectroscopy

Medical Definition

colonoscopy

noun

co·​lo·​nos·​co·​py ˌkō-lə-ˈnäs-kə-pē  ˌkäl-ə- 

plural colonoscopies

: endoscopic examination of the colon

transabdominal colonoscopy with a sigmoidoscope via colotomy

colonoscopic

kō-ˌlän-ə-ˈskäp-ik 

adjective